U.S. auto safety regulators said they have begun the process that will eventually force carmakers to adopt new technology to prevent intoxicated drivers from starting vehicles.
In 2021, Congress directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to mandate a passive technology to try to avert more than 10,000 road deaths annually. The law requires a new technology safety standard by November 2024 if the technology is ready.
“We are trying to see can we get it done, does the technology exist in a way that is going to work every time,” Acting NHTSA Administrator Ann Carlson said, adding that public acceptance of the technology would depend on its accuracy.
